Earlier this month devolved government returned to Northern Ireland after a two-year absence. The restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive follows successful negotiations between the UK Government and the Democratic Unionist Party on the Windsor Framework and its implementation.
The deal safeguards the UK internal market – guaranteeing unfettered access of NI goods to the rest of the UK.
Key elements of the new agreement include:
- Guaranteeing the smooth flow of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland through a new UK internal market system, replacing the green lane
- The UK internal market system will protect historic trade flows and reduce burdens and formalities on businesses seeking to trade across the UK, backed by a UK internal market guarantee and independent scrutiny
- A commitment of more than 80% of GB-NI freight movements taking place under the UK internal market system, overseen by an Independent Monitoring Panel and Intertrade UK
- No unnecessary checks when goods move within the UK internal market system save for those conducted by UK authorities based on risk posed to the UK’s internal market from criminality, abuse of the scheme, smuggling and disease risk
- Commitments to further reduce the burden of data provision on traders in the future
Additionally, the government has agreed a joint legal solution with the EU that will mean over 13,000 tons of lamb, beef, and poultry from key Free Trade Agreement partners and other countries around the world will now be covered by the UK tariff quota regime every year, ensuring the flow of these goods to Northern Ireland.
You can find full details of this agreement in the published command paper.